Buying health insurance for heart patients: Do’s and Don’ts

Published on Authored by C to I News Desk

Now that we all know the benefits of health insurance and how it provides financial security at the time of a medical emergency, it is equally important to make sure that you have closely gone through all the terms and conditions prescribed. Or else, you will end up paying high premiums while buying health insurance for heart patients.

IRDA recommends every policyholder go through each of these Dos and Don’ts before buying health insurance for heart patients
IRDA recommends every policyholder go through each of these Dos and Don’ts before buying health insurance for heart patients. Photo courtesy: Flickr

Knowing that health insurance policies do not come at a cheaper rate, it is essential to consider certain factors like the Do’s and Don’ts before you finalise health insurance for heart patients. 

Do’s:

It is your hard-earned money that you are investing in buying health insurance for heart patients. So why not invest in the best policy that meets your needs? Here are the Do’s you need to keep in mind while buying a heart insurance policy:

  1. Understand your Needs – Insurance isn’t about insuring your health and life, but it involves the balancing of your health requirements and financial needs. Before you buy health insurance, you need to understand your needs, whether for meeting the cardiac treatment expenses or regular diabetes check-ups. If you are looking to buy a policy for your family, make sure that you buy a policy that secures each member’s medical requirements. 
  2. Find the Best Cover – Though there are plenty of insurers selling their health insurance policies these days, you need to find out the best one that offers the best coverage there are plenty of insurers selling their health insurance policies these days, you need to find out the best one that offers the best coverage. For that, look for an insurer who provides comprehensive coverage and secures you against a wide range of medical ailments, including, ambulance fees, hospitalization charges, medication costs, critical illness coverage, etc. 
  3. Read the Waiting Period Clause – The waiting period is one of the crucial parts of a health insurance policy. If you need to get a cashless treatment under health insurance for heart patients, you must wait for the specific waiting period, which can either be 2 months or 2 years. The lesser the waiting period, the early the health insurance benefits can be enjoyed. 
  4. Look for Additional Cover/ Rider – Remember that you always have an option to choose to add on riders for your exiting health plans, to make it even more beneficial. So check with your insurance provider to know the add-on covers on offer. 
  5. Check for your Preferred Hospitals and Doctors – When it comes to cardiac health treatment, you need to get that specialized treatment done for your family. That being said, there might be just 2 or 3 good hospitals that are known for this treatment in your locality. Make sure that the insurance health plan you have chosen covers your preferred hospital and doctors in the list of network hospitals. 
  6. Buy from a Reliable Insurer – Years of experience and expert professionals make an insurer the best in the industry. Care Health Insurance has been providing good offers in their health plans and is quite known in the industry, so that your claims can be easily settled.

Don’ts:

False promises and attractive deals can make you fall for fake plans that end up paying more and more than required. Here are some of the Don’ts you need to strictly avoid while buying health insurance for heart patients.

  1. Do not Blindly Depend on your Employer-Provided Health Plan – Often, we have seen employees not taking any health plans just because they have already been insured by their employer. However, you must understand that the health plan provided by your current employer expires the moment you leave the company. Hence, it would be a wise choice to take a separate health cover if you have a critical illness history in your family. 
  2. Do not Delay your Policy Renewal – Never delay renewing your policy, as an expired health plan can end up in you paying out of your pocket. It’s only with the help of a valid plan that you can claim cashless settlements at the time of emergency. 

Bottom Line

IRDA recommends every policyholder go through each of these Dos and Don’ts before buying health insurance for heart patients so that you get the best treatment at specialised hospitals with a hassle-free cashless settlement. 

The views expressed by the author in this article are personal and do not reflect those of Connected to India.